Expert: Thom Brooks - 8/8/2008

Question
Hello, My name is Chris. I am about to turn 21 in about two weeks. My biggest dream is to play pro football. As of right now I have no clue to what my future will hold. I want to play pro football that way I can tell my mom and dad that they never have to worry about working paycheck to paycheck just to get by and put food on the table. I also want to make my parent's proud. I graduated high school in 2005 and attended a local junior college the following fall semester. I played one year of high school football and it was my sophmore year. I wanted to play my senior year but my dad suggested I find a job to start saving money for college. I approached my high school's football coach soon after and inquired about trying out for the team but he shot my hope's down when he told me that tryout's were held two week's prior to me asking. Therefore, my hope's of playing high school football and maybe getting a football scholarship to play for a local college were just dust in the wind. I attended junior college for three semester's. My first semester went well but the following two went down hill. My grade's started dropping and my interest in college was vanishing. Soon after I just quit going. I know that was a very stupid thing to do but I started realizing that college wasn't for me. So now I'm just working at a local tobacco store for a little over minimum wage. I have worked at several places while attending and not attending college. My biggest dream is to play pro football. Yes, I know that's almost every guy's dream; especially young boy's. But I honestly think I could offer a little something to one of the thirty-two pro team's. I want to play so bad, even if it mean's being the last man on the pole and being the lowest paid player in the league. I am around 5'10 or 5'11 and I currently weigh around 300 pounds. For my height I am a very large guy. I have not been lifting weight's every day but I am fairly strong. The last thing that I maxed out on was squatting and I maxed around 550 pound's. Though I do not know how fast my 40 time would be, I do know that for my size I move quickly and I can tackle very well. I recently played some tackle football at my local junior college with some friend's whom all played high school football. One of them weighing in at a scale tipping 375 pounds. He got the ball and when everyone else failed to tackle him I came up and stopped him dead in his track's. We were all shocked, even me because I had no clue I was capable of something like that. I think if I were to play I would be put at FB because of my size and speed or at MLB. Although I know my dream will probably never come true I really wanted to talk to someone about it. Please write me back and give me some of your helpful advice. I know this was really long but I wanted you to know what kind of situation I'm in. Thank's so much for your time.

Answer
Chris, hello!

I've been waiting 3 days for a router to be mailed after mine was hit by a storm.  Sorry for the delay!

You need to contact every NFL team.  If they show an interest, they have Scouts nearby that will come speak with you.  If you have promise, they will invite you to a tryout.  If your'e skilled enough, they will invite you to camp.  The odds are slim that you will get on a team because you will be competing for a job against men that have played for many years in college.  They have the track record, the experience, proven statistics, and the connections.  

So against those roadblocks, you're going to have to prove that you belong on the same field with those guys.  When you move up from high school to college to the Pros, you find that the players are bigger, faster, stronger and smarter than any you've faced before.  It's not impossibile, but you're going to need to be exceptional for the NFL to select you.  

You need to get back into any college, at ANY LEVEL, and play for a year or two.  If you're good, the NFL will seek your services.  Playing for a Division III or II or IAA team will get you the recognition needed, so don't reject any level of football.  Your end goal is to make it to the NFL, but you have to work extremely hard to make it.  You have the dream.  Now, get started on the hard work !!

Thom Brooks